By Sentinel Staff
Several COVID-19 rapid test machines are on the way to Southeast communities, the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium reports.
Each machine, which will allow for same-day, in-house test results, will be available in Sitka, Juneau, Wrangell, Klawock, Haines, Hoonah and Kake, with Angoon and other towns to follow as more units are available, SEARHC said in a press release.
The machines, from the medical equipment manufacturer Abbott, are accompanied by 45 testing kits each. Only a limited number of kits are on hand, and SEARHC medical directors have set strict guidelines to ensure the rapid tests are used where most needed.
In addition, instances that improve the safety of health care workers and availability of critical staff and supplies may be prioritized as well.
“SEARHC leadership is excited to add rapid response testing to our available resources during the pandemic,” said SEARHC Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elliot Bruhl. “The ability to produce fast test results in-house will be extremely valuable as we work to protect our high-risk populations, as well as ensure staff on the front lines are safe and available to provide care.”
Patients who don’t meet the rapid test criteria, but meet the symptomatic guidelines for a COVID-19 test, will be tested by SEARHC providers with either the State Lab or the private LabCorp receiving the cultures, depending on which facility has the quickest turn-around time at the time of testing (typically 24-48 hours), the release said.
Because of the known community spread of COVID-19 in Southeast, tests are currently available to all patients exhibiting a fever and cough, or shortness of breath, regardless of travel or exposure history.
For more information on test availability, including alternative test site locations, visit covid19.searhc.org or call the SEARHC COVID-19 Hotline at (907) 966-8799.
